Horse anticipating canter

[aneles]

Hi im wondering if anyone can help me with a problem im having with my show cob.
We have just started showing and had great results so far however its when the judge rides him is when its letting us down. He is a very responsive cob and requires very little-if any! leg so when the judge rides and uses leg he just goes into canter. he doesnt do this with me though! this past couple of shows we have attended have been told he would have won had he not kept anticipated canter! We compete in showjumping and cross country etc so i like the fact hes forward however i would really like to sort this out! Any advice gratefully received

 

[louisesb]

I would say get a few of your friends to ride him, that way you should desensitise him a bit to different styles of riding. Good luck!!

 

[Kenzo]

I take it you are riding in spurs for the classes, do you ride in spurs normally?

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

But do remember that judges dont wear spurs to ride- most dont even carry a whip/cane

I would work him in for longer before the class so the canter isnt so exciting- preferably do a boring or at least non-jumping class first to settle him in the ring

Agree that you need to get as many people as possible to ride him too. I had this with my cob-He p*ssed off more than once with a judge and it did take a season to get him settled and mannerly for the judge but was soooo worth it in the end